Stormwater Program

Keeping Our Environment Clean for Everyone to Enjoy
In response to the 1987 Amendments to the Clean Water Act (CWA), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed Phase I of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater Program in 1990. The Phase I program addressed sources of stormwater runoff that had the greatest potential to negatively impact water quality.

Phase II Final Rule
The Phase II Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on December 8, 1999, expanded the stormwater permit program to include stormwater discharges from certain regulated small MS4s (Municipal Separate Stormwater Systems) and construction activity that disturbs 1-5 acres of land.

Management Categories
The City of Southaven is classified as a MS4, and is required to develop and fully implement a stormwater management program. Stormwater management programs must contain appropriate management practices in each of the following control management categories:

Public education and outreach

Public involvement and participation

Illicit discharge detection and elimination

Construction site stormwater runoff control

Post-construction site stormwater runoff control

Pollution prevention / good housekeeping

The City of Southaven is working jointly with DeSoto County and the Cities of Olive Branch and Horn Lake to obtain compliance with the Phase II Stormwater requirements.